Operation

APPENDIX "A" 28 To: HQ MAAF (attention 23rd. SCORU) HQ MATAF (attention 2nd. Command Unit 23rd. SCORU) SADA SAAF. From: SIO 21 Squadron SAAF. Ref: 21S/743. Date: 1st.JULY 1944. OPREP No. 743 FOR PERIOD ENDING 13.00 Hrs. 1st.JULY 1944. Ref Map: ITALY 1.100,000 Sheet 117 IESI. A. 12 Baltimores (one returned shortly after take-off owing to engine trouble) airborne from PESCARA at 09.33 Hrs. to bomb a road and rail junction at S509484. Attack took place at 10.30 Hrs. from 12000' on a course of 245°. Leader's intercom. plug was accidentally pulled out during bombing run, preventing last corrections. A line error to the left resulted, pattern from both boxes from S 513492 to S 509489. Direct hit on buildings & on a secondary road junction at ~~Rupy~~ S 509489. ~~Muuust~~ ~~MkxxxMxxSMKxxIIISpec~~. HAA slight inaccurate from target area. Weather cloudless but visibility hazy. All A/C landed at base by 11.25 Hrs. B. (i) 7 Balt. (Mk.iv) (ii) Nil (i) 5 Balt (Mk v). (ii) Nil. C. (i) & (ii) Nil. (i) & (ii) Nil. D. (i) 10.50 Hrs. (ii) Nil. (i) 08.45 Hrs. (ii) Nil. E. (i) 22400 x .30 2100 x .303 4900 x .50 (ii) & (iii) Nil (i) 16000 x .30 ~~xxxx~~ 1500 x .303 3500 x .50 (ii) & (iii) Nil. F. (i) 14 x 500 M.C. ~~xxxx~~ 21 x 250 GP. (ii) 12 x 500 MC 16 x 250 GP. (iii) & (iv) Nil. Fused 36-27 Nose 36-28 Tail except 3x250 52-37 Tail (6 & 12 Hrs. del (i) 10 x 500 M.C. ~~xxxx~~ 15 x 250 GP. (ii) as in (i) (iii) & (iv) Nil G to Z. Nil. Hallick Captain S.I.O. 21 Squadron S.A.A.F.

1944-07-01

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Form 541

MAP

Transcriber's Notes

Transcriber's Historical & Tactical Notes: * The "Unplugged" Incident (Human Error): * Communication Failure: The report details a specific and unusual cause for the bombing error: "Leader's intercom. plug was accidentally pulled out during bombing run, preventing last corrections.". The "leader" refers to the lead observer/bombardier. In the Baltimore, the observer lay in the nose while the pilot was in the cockpit. They communicated via wired intercom. If the plug disconnected (perhaps due to the observer shifting position to use the bombsight), the pilot could not receive the final "Left, Left... Steady" instructions required for a precision drop. * Result: The loss of communication caused a "line error to the left," meaning the aircraft didn't turn onto the final vector in time. * Targeting and fusing (Delay Bombs): * Time Delay: Section F notes a specialized fuse setting: "3x250 52-37 Tail (6 & 12 Hrs. del [delay]).". Dropping bombs set to explode 6 or 12 hours later was a tactical method used to disrupt repair efforts. If a rail junction was hit, repair crews would be wary of unexploded ordnance (UXO), slowing down the restoration of the line significantly more than immediate destruction alone. This explains the later diary entry (July 4th) about jettisoning delay bombs at sea—landing with a ticking 6-hour chemical fuse was forbidden. * Geographic Context (Jesi/Iesi): * The Map: The reference map is "ITALY 1.100,000 Sheet 117 IESI.". Jesi (spelled Iesi) is located inland from Ancona. The coordinates S509484 place the target west of Ancona, targeting the lateral communication lines supplying the German front. * Abbreviations: * HAA: Heavy Anti-Aircraft (Flak). * M.C.: Medium Capacity (High Explosive bomb). * G.P.: General Purpose (Bomb). * OPREP: Operational Report. * SCORU: Statistical Control and Operations Research Unit. * S.I.O.: Squadron Intelligence Officer (Capt. Hallick). 29 Verification: Target File Verification: The document is dated 2nd.July 1944. in the "Date" field. It is a Sortie Report (Appendix "B") labeled 29 in the top right corner.